Edward Edward James Gay

February 3, 1816 (age 73)

Liberty, Bedford

Gay was the grandfather of Edward James Gay, who also served in the United States. Congress. His family moved to Illinois in 1820, then four years later to Saint Louis, Missouri. Although he had no formal business education, Gay was a dedicated student of industrial and political economy from early manhood on. From Saint Louis he moved to Louisiana, where he became interested in manufacturing and planting. He was prominently connected with the erection of the Merchant"s Exchange Building in Saint Louis., and he was the first president of the Louisiana Sugar Exchange of New Orleans. Gay was originally opposed to secession from the Union, but once the American Civil War began, he stood firmly behind the Southern Confederacy. Although not inclined towards politics, Gay was persuaded in 1884 by his friends and associates to run for a seat in the United States. House of Representatives. He was re-elected to the 50th and 51st Congresses. Gay died at his home, the Saint Louis Plantation in Iberville Parish, on May 30, 1889, while still in office. He was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery, in Saint Louis, Missouri. His Saint Louis Plantation was added to the National Register of Historic Places, in 1975.

Edward Edward James Gay

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Background

He was born at Liberty, Bedford County, Virginia, in the United States.

Education

Foreign several years he studied under a private teacher in Belleville, Illinois. He attended Augusta College in Kentucky in 1833-1834 and returned to Saint Louis, where he was engaged in commercial affairs from 1839 to 1860.

Career

Gay was the grandfather of Edward James Gay, who also served in the United States. Congress. His family moved to Illinois in 1820, then four years later to Saint Louis, Missouri. Although he had no formal business education, Gay was a dedicated student of industrial and political economy from early manhood on.

From Saint Louis he moved to Louisiana, where he became interested in manufacturing and planting.

He was prominently connected with the erection of the Merchant"s Exchange Building in Saint Louis., and he was the first president of the Louisiana Sugar Exchange of New Orleans. Gay was originally opposed to secession from the Union, but once the American Civil War began, he stood firmly behind the Southern Confederacy.

Although not inclined towards politics, Gay was persuaded in 1884 by his friends and associates to run for a seat in the United States. House of Representatives. He was re-elected to the 50th and 51st Congresses.

Gay died at his home, the Saint Louis Plantation in Iberville Parish, on May 30, 1889, while still in office.

He was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery, in Saint Louis, Missouri. His Saint Louis Plantation was added to the National Register of Historic Places, in 1975.

Membership

He defeated William Pitt Kellogg, the last survivor of carpetbagging in Louisiana, in the election and became a member of the 49th Congress as a Democrat.

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